The Victorian Sport Awards (VSAs) is the night of nights for the Victorian sporting community, an event that recognises and celebrates the achievements of our home-grown sporting heroes and legends.

Each year, the Victorian Sport Awards honours the athletes, coaches, administrators and volunteers who have made an exceptional contribution to sport in Victoria as well as the initiatives that promoted sport and active recreation participation.

Presented by the State Government of Victoria and Vicsport on Wednesday 7 June 2023, this year’s VSAs were held in the Victory Room at Marvel Stadium.

Winners across 19 categories were announced after being nominated by State Sporting Associations as well as teammates, club members, friends, family and the recipient’s local community.

An esteemed panel of 37 highly qualified Victorian sports people including Olympians, world-renowned athletes and State Sporting Association CEOs were then charged with selecting the finalists and winners.

Judges included four-time Olympic marathoner Steve Moneghetti AM OLY, Head of Female Cricket at Cricket Victoria Sharelle McMahon as well as CEOs from the Victorian Institute of Sport (Anne Marie Harrison), Netball Victoria (Andrea Pearman), Bowls Victoria (Tony Sherwill) and Disability Sport & Recreation Victoria (Liz Tesone).

The most prestigious honour bestowed on the night is the Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Sport Award, presented to an individual in recognition of outstanding achievement in, or contribution to, sport in Victoria. This year’s recipient was Neale Daniher AO.

Part of a famous footballing family, Neale and his three brothers combined to play 752 games during their careers, the second most by a set of siblings.

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He made a move to the coaches box in 1993, serving as assistant coach during Essendon’s 1993 Premiership before taking the head coaching reins at Melbourne in 1998 where he held the position for ten years which included a run to the Grand Final in 2000.

Forced to end his coaching career due to health concerns related to motor neurone disease (MND), Neale co-founded FightMND in 2014 and since then, the organisation has raised over $50 million through donations, merchandise sales and a number of national events.

The organisation’s most recognised initiative is the Big Freeze which, now in its ninth year, is held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground prior to the King’s Birthday AFL match between Melbourne and Collingwood while the player judged best on ground in the ensuing match is awarded the Neale Daniher Trophy.

Vicsport Chair Ritchie Hinton says:

“The Victorian Sport Awards provides the opportunity to celebrate the best our state’s sporting community has to offer. This year, once again, demonstrated the outstanding dedication and aptitude of those who work, volunteer, play and compete throughout our industry.

“It is also an honour to acknowledge the achievements of this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Sport award recipient, Neale Daniher AO. His commitment to MND education and fundraising for a cure is nothing short of heroic and an inspiration to all Victorians.”

The Hon. Ros Spence, Minister for Community Sport says:

“From football legend and tireless FightMND campaigner Neale Daniher to community teams, volunteers and coaches leading the way at grassroots level, it’s fantastic to see Victorian home-grown heroes receive the recognition they deserve.

“Congratulations to all our winners and finalists. You’ve done us proud.”

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